Ceiling wallboard tool



y 0,1941. M WHITE 2,242,380'

CEILING WALLBOARD TOOL Filed Feb. 15, 1939 Patented May 20, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT reins 1 Claim.

This invention is a wall board tool, that is 'to say a tool for assisting a workman in putting up large pieces of wall board or the like on the ceiling of a room, and for speeding up the said Work.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive tool of the kind referred to, of light yet strong structure so as to be easily handled by one workman, and made in sections adjustably connected, for use in rooms having ceilings of different heights.

Another object is to provide a tool or apparatus of the kind referred to, the same comprising a lower prop having a rubber floor tip, a supporting fork slidably mounted on the prop, a ceiling board medially and pivotally mounted on the supporting fork, and means for releasably locking the fork at any adjusted position upon the prop.

With the foregoing objects in view, reference will be made to the accompanying drawing as embodying a preferred form of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the tool as in use.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the ceiling board alone.

Figure 3 is a similarly enlarged perspective of the prop and board supporting fork slidably mounted thereon, a portion of the fork head being broken out to show the releasable locking means for these elements.

Figure 4 is a detail showing the means of pivotally mounting the ceiling board upon the fork.

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of one of the arms showing a modified form of bearing loop.

The invention comprises a support or prop 5 provided at its lower end with a rubber tip 6 to prevent slippage or injury to floors. A forked member I is slidably and hence adjustably mounted upon the prop 5. This forked member includes a pair of arms 8 arranged in a V shaped formation at opposite sides of the upper end of the prop, the lower ends of the arms being turned at the junction 9 parallel with the prop and being bound together across the prop by iron bands It] secured by screws I I to the arms 8.

Thus a rigid unitary head I2 is formed that slidably engages the prop 5 which is embraced within the arms 8 and the bands ID.

A series of adjustment holes I 4 are bored in longitudinal alignment into one side of the upper end of the prop 5, and a registering hole I 5 is bored clear through the lower end of the contiguous arm 8, between the bands It] at that side of the assembly.

An iron tab [6 is Welded at its lower end as indicated at II to the lower band III at that side, and has its free upper end sprung outward as shown. A hole I8 is formed through the free end of the tab in alignment with the hole l5 through the arm 8. An iron lock pin I9 is passed freely through the holes l8l5 and into any one of the holes M of the prop 5, and

thus the fork 1 may be adjustably locked at any desired height upon the prop.

The upper ends of the arms are cut off transversely in a common plane as indicated at 2| and iron loops 22 having ears 23 extended laterally are fastened in alignment to the upper ends of the arms by means of screws 24 passed down through the ears 23 into the ends of the arms. In lieu of one of such screws a screw having a threaded shank 24a and thumb nut 24b may be provided, for a purpose to be pointed out.

A ceiling board 26 is provided, same being made of ply wood or other suitable material, and otherwise reinforced or strengthened as may be found desirable. This board may also be of any preferred length and width, as occasion may require.

An iron axle block 2'! is rigidly secured by screws 28 transversely the middle of this board, the block being formed at its ends with hubs or spindles 29 for pivotally engaging the iron loops 22. The board 26 is pivotally mounted atop the arms 8 either by taking out one of the screws 24 and swinging the element aside so that the hubs 29 may be inserted within the loops 22 and then replacing and securing this loosened loop, or by untwining the thumb-screw 24b for the same purpose. The board 26 and axle 21 are of course dimensioned to nicely fit in between the loops 22.

As a matter of course the entrances to the holes l4 and I5 may be suitably reinforced by metal facings (not shown) mounted upon the sides of the prep 5 and arm 8, these facings being suitably apertured for passing the lock bolt l9. Thus wear of the margins of these holes is prevented.

In use the workman arranges his horses A in a spaced relation under the ceiling B which is to be covered, 'then places planks C upon the horses to form his staging. The ceiling tool is then adjusted to a length slightly greater than the vertical distance from floor to ceiling and is laid upon the staging with its ceiling board turned upward. The workman then places a piece of wall board upon the ceiling board of the tool, gets upon the staging and taking hold of the prop, elevates the wall board to its proper location on the ceiling. By then bracing the lower end of the prop upon the floor between the staging boards, and wedging the prop vertically against the wall board and overhead ceiling, the wall board is held firmly in place while the workman nails it up.

While I have hereshown and described a certain embodiment of my invention and certainstructural features thereof, it is understood that I may vary the same in minor details for improving the tool, not departing however from the spirit of the invention as defined in the-claim.

I claim:

In a device of the kind described, a prop com-i bands embracing the converged lower ends of the forked upper section and the slidably interposed end of the lower section, said bands being anchored to the converged lower ends of the upper section, there being a series of spaced adjustment holes formed in longitudinal alignment on one side of the upper end of the lower section contiguous to an arm of the upper section, and a registering hole formed through the lower end of the contiguous convergent arm of the upper section, a metal supporting tab anchored at its lower end to the lower metal band, on the side of the structure carrying the holes aforesaid, there being a hole formed through the upper free endof the said tab in transverse alignment with the hole through the lower end of the arm. of the. upper section, and a bolt adapted for slidable insertion through the 1 aligned holes of the supporting tab and arm of prising a straight lower section and a vforked 0 upper section for supporting a ceiling board, said upper section including a pair of arms slidably arranged in a V-formation at opposite sides of the upper end of the lower section, spaced metal the upper section into one of theadjustment holes of the lower section, for adjustably locking the sections together,

LOUIE M. WHITE. 

